Sep 2004

Records for crude futures prices were broken day after day in mid-August, with the Nymex front month contract breaching $47/b and IPE Brent topping $44/b

Conventional wisdom holds that only death and taxes are certain in life, but the prospect that one day we will no longer be able to power our vehicles on fossil fuels can safely be added to the list, writes Cris Heaton

Faced with a mountain of foreign debt, Ecuador needs new private-sector investment if it is to keep raising oil production—a cornerstone of government revenues. But foreign firms are still wary of the unstable Andean nation, writes Robert Olson

The details of the European Union's (EU) Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) are gradually crystallising, as the 1 January 2005 start-up approaches. Forward trading is under way, but three sets of legal instrument are being traded, threatening to split liquidity in a fragmented market, writes Liz Bossley.

Tehran's attempts to lure foreign oil companies into its upstream sector with improved terms have, bar a few exceptions, failed to make much headway. Tinkering with the buy-back formula is unlikely to hasten the entry of IOCs, reports James Gavin

Margins soared this spring and summer to figures rarely seen, driven by a shortage of capacity—particularly for gasoline. With US products imports increasing, strong refinery utilisation rates and earnings are forecast to continue. Up to early last month, margins were robust against high crude prices, Martin Quinlan writes

Few believe that the European Union will meet its 2010 renewable energy targets, but its efforts so far have not been without merit. New policies and technologies should see the use of renewables grow in importance over the next decade, writes Cris Heaton

The European Commission has admitted that the EU's original member states will miss 2010 targets for power produced from renewable sources. And unless accession countries step up their efforts significantly, experts say the expanded EU is unlikely to meet proposed new targets for 2020. NJ Watson reports

Now is a bad time to be hunting upstream oil deals, with oil prices at record levels. Despite this, and the corporate turmoil surrounding the Yukos saga, US oil firms are looking for assets in Russia, one of the world's last great oil frontiers. And now they have the blessing of President Vladimir Putin, writes Isabel Gorst

Investors hate uncertainty, but that is exactly what they can expect in some hydrocarbons-rich provinces, where changeable fiscal regimes and political risks can easily derail the best laid plans. And when the ground rules change, investors run for cover, Martin Clarke reports

In the wake of the 9 August accident which claimed four lives, Neil Ford assesses the likely impact of the tragedy and asks: does the industry have a future in Japan?

With little fanfare the Dutch electricity and gas markets opened to full retail competition on 1 July 2004.

In our second look at the future for emissions trading, Jeremy Wilcox observes little appetite for trading to date. But, in January 2005 when the doors open for business with a flourish, will that all change?

New Zealand has a reputation for being clean and green and its energy reform process has left the industry with a light regulatory load. Is this the ideal energy market for the 21st century?

Between the idea and the reality; between the motion and the act, falls the shadow - T S Eliot. In the case of CO2 reduction, the ‘shadow’ is practicality.

Far more effort seems to have gone into discussing Africa’s hydroelectric potential than in actually developing it.

Led by oil, the price of primary energy sources has been soaring over the past few months, but while the future is secure for oil and gas the prognosis for coal is less certain. The raw statistics, however, argue strongly in favour of coal.

National Grid Transco’s sale of four UK gas distribution networks could signal further US acquisitions.

The great and the good gathered in Sydney earlier this month to debate the future for the global energy industry. Power Economics was there.

Ireland should see full market opening by next year

Oil’s blamed for everything, or so it seems. As the cost of a barrel nudges $50 for the first time in years, Power Economics assesses the future of black gold

Power trading will be crucial to the development of Southern Africa’s electricity infrastructure

New Zealand is windy, and getting windier still